“Yes, of course.” Reading I can do, at least. I give Angie and Elly an apologetic look as I give my hide the last scrape as I’rec races off again, heading for the row of huts by the cliffs. “I’ll be back in a few.”
Angie waves her scraper at me in a shooing motion. “Take your time. The hides aren’t going anywhere.”
CHAPTER 26
DAISY
I get to my feet, groaning at how tight my back is. A hot spring sounds amazing right now, but they’re all a fair hike away. Oh well. I stretch a bit more and then head for I’rec’s hut. It’s going to take me days to get all this gunk out from under my nails, but I can’t regret it. The day has been hard work, but it’s also been so fun to sit with Angie and Elly and just laugh and talk in the sunshine. It’s been a good day.
And as I enter I’rec’s wide-open hut and see his eager expression, I hope Tia has sent some good news over for her long-distance paramour. It’s so romantic, the torch he carries for her. Shadow Cat clan can be bossy and a little brooding, but they’re definitely romantic. I blush, thinking about all the filthy things that O’jek said to me last night as he painted my breasts with his seed.
Romantic and dirty, I decide.
I’rec all but scrambles to unwrap the hide as I enter. “Here. Tell me her story.”
“Let me wash my hands first, please. I think they’re starting to smell.” I sniff my fingers, and the urge to gag rises again.
He makes an impatient sound, but it doesn’t take long for the water over his cook-fire to warm up and then I quickly wash up, grimacing at the dark half-moons under my once-elegant manicure. I’ll worry about that later. I wash my arms and then my face, and when I feel less disgusting, I towel off with a soft bit of worked leather that I’rec hands me.
“Okay, okay, let’s see what we’ve got.” I smile and sit next to the unwrapped hide. I’rec looks a bit like a kid on Christmas morning. I peer down at the hide in the low light of the hut, making out the smudged words. The hide itself is pale, and Tia has written with charcoal in block letters onto the skin, since there’s no paper here. The soot tends to transfer, which is why I’rec is so careful with the skin. “All right, it says—”
“That is my name there, yes?” He interrupts, with a finger pointing at the top of the skin. “I recognize the shapes.”
“Yes. It says ‘Dear I’rec (and everyone else),’ hope the weather is nice there. We are having yet another snowstorm. I miss the beach (and you) and am thinking about returning to spend the brutal season there. I’m low on herbs and need to…” I pause at the smeary word. “Replenish, I think that says.”
“Does she speak of me?” he asks, leaning closer to the skin as if it will offer solutions.
I want to smack him. “I’m getting there.” I read with my finger pointing at each word, because I know he’s quietly memorizing things. “’I had a dream about you. Rokan says it might mean something. We will see. Do you miss me? Looking forward to kissing you again.’ Then she signs off with some heart shapes and her name.”
He sits back on his haunches and grunts, a curious look on his face. “A dream?”
“That’s what it says.”
“And R’kan says it might mean something.” He strokes the down on his jaw.
“Maybe it’s resonance?” I offer. “Or it just might mean that she’s coming back here. Either way, I really do hope it’s something good for you.”
I’rec gives me a curious look. “You would be happy for me to resonate when you have not?”
“Well, yes. It’s not as if your resonance means mine won’t happen.” I shrug. “And we’re just friends anyhow.”
He continues to stroke his beard, eyeing me. “You are friends with O’jek, yes?”
“Just friends there,” I agree, trying not to think of last night. Or the night before. Or the night before that. “That’s how O’jek wants it, anyhow.”
The sound I’rec makes is downright derisive. “My clan brother is an idiot. ‘Just friends.’ As if I cannot smell him all over your skin. As if the entire tribe cannot.” He rolls his eyes. “’Just friends’ indeed.”
My face gets hot. They can smell what we’re up to? Oh god. Does everyone know? It didn’t occur to me that others would smell his scent on me, but they all have really keen senses. Even mine have been heightened since I got my khui. I bite my lip, because O’jek has been literally releasing his seed all over my skin for weeks now. I must smell like…well, something filthy and spunk-covered.